Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42545080›Full record

ArticleMedical physics2026

Photon minibeam-based LATTICE radiotherapy for small and medium-sized tumors: A dosimetric planning study.

Wei Wu, Nimita Shinde, Jiaxin Li, Isabelle Vanhaezebrouck, Kai Jiang, Yuting Lin, Qiang Li, Hao Gao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical physics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wei WuInstitute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China.
Nimita ShindeDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Jiaxin LiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Isabelle VanhaezebrouckDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Kai JiangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Yuting LinDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Qiang LiInstitute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China.
Hao GaoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.

Funding

Novel Optimization Methods and Treatment Planning System for Clinically-Deliverable Truly-Hybrid Proton-Photon RadiotherapyR37CA250921 · NCI · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · PI Hao Gao · 2021 to 2026
$2.2M
Simultaneous dose and dose rate optimization for clinical FLASH proton radiotherapyR01CA261964 · NCI · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · PI GAO, HAO · 2022 to 2025
$2.0M
The first clinical prototype for proton minibeam radiation therapyR37CA306829 · NCI · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · PI Yuting Lin · 2026 to 2026
$684k
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA261964NCI NIH HHS R37 CA250921NCI NIH HHS R37 CA306829NIH HHS R01CA261964NIH HHS R37CA250921NIH HHS R37CA306829
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLattice radiotherapy (LRT) is a spatially fractionated technique that delivers three-dimensional high-dose vertices within tumors. However, conventional LRT is constrained by geometric limitations when applied to small and medium-sized tumor volumes, primarily due to the large beam sizes that restrict optimal lattice pattern formation. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate a photon minibeam-based LATTICE radiotherapy (mini-LRT) approach designed to overcome the geometric limitations of conventional LRT and enable effective spatially fractionated treatment for small and medium-sized tumors adjacent to critical organs.

methodsThree brain cases and three lung cases, with clinical target volumes ranging from 12.34 cc to 40.88 cc, were presented for treatment planning comparison between conventional LRT and mini-LRT. A multi-collimator delivery strategy employing shifted slit patterns was implemented to achieve complementary spatial coverage. Dose calculation and optimization were performed using Monte Carlo simulations and solved via an iterative convex relaxation algorithm. Reference stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) plans were generated for all six cases, and setup-error robustness analysis was performed for two representative cases using nominal and shifted dose-influence matrix scenarios.

resultsMini-LRT produced denser lattice structures in all cases, generating 5-11 vertices compared to only 1-3 vertices achievable with conventional LRT. Vertex diameters were reduced from 15.0 mm to 3.0-4.0 mm, and vertex-to-vertex distances decreased from 25.0 mm to 12.5 mm. The lattice volume ratio ranged from 0.68% to 1.07% with mini-LRT. Organs at risk (OARs) dose reductions were observed in the evaluated cases, including reduced mean dose to brainstem, heart, and esophageal. Furthermore, mini-LRT achieved a higher peak-to-valley dose ratio (PVDR) ranging from 2.19 to 2.94, compared to 1.75-2.34 for conventional LRT. Reference SBRT plans achieved clinical target volume (CTV) D

conclusionsThis proof-of-concept dosimetric planning study suggests that photon minibeam-based LATTICE radiotherapy can generate compact spatially fractionated dose distributions in selected small and medium-sized tumors. Compared with conventional LRT, mini-LRT increased vertex density, reduced lattice volume ratio, and improved OAR sparing in the evaluated cases. Additional experimental validation, motion assessment, and larger patient studies are required before clinical translation.

Indexed as

Lung NeoplasmsPhotonsRadiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedTumor BurdenBrain NeoplasmsHumansMonte Carlo MethodRadiometryRadiotherapy DosageLATTICE radiotherapyMonte Carlo simulationsmall and medium‐sized tumorsspatially fractionated radiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID42545080
PMCPMC13431144

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.